And now…Pizza !

Pizza has a very old history, the first news about pizza goes back to the Etruscan time (800 B.C). Pizza had its largest diffusion during the 15th and 16th centuries.
At that time pizzas were made only with lard spread or fish ( like sardines) on top.
Thanks to the discover of the New World, many new ingredients were imported such as tomato.
Only in the 19th century the pizza “Margherita” was invented by a Neapolitan’s creative mind.
After the Italian unification (1861) the King of Italy Umberto I, and his wife Queen Margherita visited Naples.
They invited to the Royal Palace the pizza master Raffaele Esposito.

For the occasion he wanted to make a special pizza to celebrate the Italian unification.
He was inspired by the Italian flag colors: he used tomato sauce for red, mozzarella cheese for white, basil for green, and named the pizza as the Italian Queen “Margherita”.
Pizza Margherita was born, and from that time on, millions of people tasted around the world.

Now you can make your own tasteful homemade pizza yourself using this very simple recipe.
A great classic of the Italian cuisine for your Italian side!!
Enjoy it!!! Feedbacks are welcome!!

Cut the mozzarella cheese into small cubes and put it into a drainer.
Put the durum wheat semolina in a container, add the water – must be warm – and the extra virgin olive oil. Knead the dough, and then add the yeast.

Keep kneading the dough and at the end add the salt. The dough should result smooth. If it’s too sticky add a little more of flour.
When the dough is well kneaded, cover the container, wrap it into a blanket and let the dough rest for at least a couple of hours in a warm place.

When the dough is ready the container’s top will pop by itself.
Take 2 large pans, cut the dough in two pieces and put one piece in each previously oiled pan.
Let the dough cool down before flattening it.
To make this operation easier, put a little olive oil on your hands so the dough won’t stick on them.
Once the dough is completely flattened, add on top the tomato sauce a little salt and olive oil.
Put the pizza in the pre-heated hoven at 480°F.
When the pizza is halfway cooked add the mozzarella cheese.
When completely cooked add the basil.